Process of presenting the hydrocarbon in the form of a thin film of large surface area to the action of an oxidizing agent



E. GEVERS-ORBAN.

PROCESS OF PRESENTING THE HYDROCARBON IN THE FORM OF A THIN FILM 0F LARGE SURFACE AREA TO THE ACTION OF AN OXIDIZING AGENT.

APPLlCATC-h FELE-J DECL26,1912.

1,404,435, Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMILE GEVERS-ORBAN, OF MONTEGN'EE, NEAR LIEGE, BELGIUM.

PROCESS OF PRESENTING THE HYDROCA RIBON IN THE FORM OF A THIN FILM LARGE SURFACE AREA TO THE ACTION OF AN OXIDIZING AGENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 26, 1912. Serial No. 738,713.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH}, 1921, 41 STAT. L., 1313.)

T 0 all whom may concern Beit known that I, EMILE GEvERs-On- I BAN, eI1glI18el, a subject of the King of the hydrocarbons by means of air, ozone or chemicals.

Most frequently such a process has for its object the manufacture of pitch or of bitumen and requires either the simultaneous or subsequent distillation of the lighter not oxidized products.

The process which forms the subject of my invention, accomplishes both the oxidation and the distillation, or more exactly evaporation, in one operation and in a new manner, by the use of large surfaces provided for the purpose of presenting the hydrocarbon in the form of a thin film of large surface area to the action of an oxidizing agent. These surfaces are covered with thin, continually renewed pellicles of h drocarbon, while the surfaces are slowly moving through a current of air.

The surfaces provided for the purpose of convection, passing continuously through the liquid, are working at the same time somewhat as agitators, which greatly enhances the heating and evaporating.

The surfaces, by passing through a current of air, owing to their comparatively large area, produceastrong oxidation of the liquid adhering to them, and produce also a strong evaporation of the lighter products.

By virtue of this manner of presenting the hydrocarbon to the oxidizing agent. the hydrocarbon may be simultaneously submitted to three different operations,- viz stirring, oxidation, and evaporation, and the oxidizing and evaporating processes may be carried on in the most efficient manner.

Somewhat similar processes of oxidation have been employed in cleaning vegetable products to be distilled together and not perfectly separated.

On the other hand, in my process, owing to the large extent of the surfaces of the hydrocarbons presented to the action of the air, and owing to their slow movement, I realize the chemical reaction, as well as the separation of the lighter products, to be evaporated, from the heavy products, to be oxidized, in a rapid and efficient manner.

As the separation of the light products for distillation is more easily effected in my prcess, these products are purer, less numerous, and leave behind them a much higher percentage of bituminous products.

The process is illustrated by a drawing, annexed hereto, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a larger vertical section of the apparatus.

A heated tank or boiler containing the liquid hydrocarbon.

The surfaces provided for the purpose of convection 3, made of iron plates, are fixed on a revolving shaft 4 driven by the pully 5. A current of air enters through the inlet 6. The outlet for both, air and gas, towards the serpentine is indicated by 7.

This plant is evidentlymuch cheaper than that required for the purpose which consists of blowing air through the liquid mass, whereto an air compressor and high or deep tanks are required.

The arrangement can of course be varied as to constructive details. The plates which are adapted to present the hydrocarbons in the' form of films may of course be of vari- Patented Jan. 24., 1922. i

ous shapes. The air may be either hot or cold, and may be passed through the tank in any well-known manner.

The heating may be accomplished by fire or by steam, or by heating internally the iron plates for convection purposes.

The process may be made continuous by causing the hydrocarbon to enter in at one end of the boiler or tank and to leave from the other end. Various combinations of lates or barriers may be arranged for causing the liquid to move in a methodical Way with respect to the air.

This process can be combined with any other process of previous or subsequent oxidation produced in any other apparatus.

This process may also be used for oxidation of any oily or viscous liquid.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A process of treating hydrocarbons which consists in presenting the hydrocarbons in the form of thin films of large area to the action of an oxidizing and evaporating medium and slowly moving such films in such, medium.

2. A process of treating hydrocarbons which consists of heating the hydrocarbons and simultaneously evaporating the lighter constituents thereof and oxidizing the heavier constituents thereof by submitting slowly moving thin films thereof of large area to an oxidizing and evaporating medium.

3. A process of enriching hydrocarbons in bituminous constituents which consists of heating the hydrocarbons, gently stirring and presenting thin films thereof on carriers the lighter constituents of the hydrocarbons to be evaporated and the heavier constituents thereof oxidized.

4. A process of treating hydrocarbons which consists of heating the hydrocarbons, simultaneously evaporating the lighter constituents thereof and oxidizing the heavier constitutents thereof by submitting slowly moving thin films thereof of large area to an oxidizing and evaporating medium and constantly renewing the supply of hydrocarbons, presenting fresh films thcrcol to the action of said medium and drawing off the hydrocarbon which has been acted upon.

5. A )rocess of continuously treating hydrocar one which consists of heating the hydrocarbons in a containing vessel, simultaneously evaporating the lighter constituents thereof and ()Xl( izing the hcavicr coir stituents thereof by submitting slowly .lllUY- ing thin films thereof of large area to an oxidizing and ewlporating medium and moving the body of the hydrocarbons and said medium in opposite directions with respect to each other in the containing vessel.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

EMILE GEVERS-ORBAN.

Witnesses:

A. 0. Causes, L. PARMENTIER. 

